A method and system in a portable computer having a display screen for increasing portable computer compactness. Data is displayed initially within the display screen. The display screen is then partitioned into a touch-sensitive input area and a display area, wherein data input at the touch-sensitive input area may be simultaneously displayed in the display area, in response to a particular user input. A test is performed to detect if a user's hands are positioned at the touch-sensitive input area. A touch-sensitive pad is thereafter graphically displayed at the touch-sensitive input area within the display screen, in response to detecting a user's hands positioned at the touch-sensitive area, wherein a user may enter data that may be simultaneously displayed in the display area. An additional test may then be performed to detect if the user's hands are no longer positioned at the touch-sensitive input area. The touch-sensitive pad is subsequently concealed from view, in response to detecting if the user's hands are no longer positioned at the touch-sensitive input area. The touch-sensitive pad graphically displayed at the touch-sensitive input area within the display screen may be composed of a touch-sensitive keyboard, which may in and of itself be an ergonomic keyboard.